There was a time when it was possible that someone might refer to me as a…you won’t believe it…as a “Party Girl”. I know, I know. I said you wouldn’t believe it.
Wait a minute! *insert screeching brake noises here* I just looked up the definition of Party Girl from several sources: The Urban Dictionary (absolutely not printable on my blog), Merriam Webster, Wikipedia, etc. not one gave me the definition I thought applied to the term. I just asked He-Who his definition. He agreed with me (I know…it is a rare thing). Our definition of a Party Girl is someone who enjoys going to parties and perhaps indulges in a few too many libations. Although in this case, at the party I was going to tell you about, I had very little to drink. Not that I didn’t do my share of drinking at parties but at this particular soiree, I was working. Which brings me back to the most common definition of the term, Party Girl…”an attractive young woman hired to attend parties and entertain men”. I was working at the party but I was not hired to attend or entertain men. The truth is I was working for free. Why do I feel like I just dug this hole deeper?
The group of friends I spent most of my time with liked to have house parties. Not just any kind of house parties, but themed house parties. Now these themes usually involved costumes. When people go to great lengths to create costumes for a themed party they often like to have photos to remember the occasion by. I was still making my living as a Photographer so it was implied that I would bring a camera and preserve the moment for future generations. This happened to be a St. Valentine’s Day Party. Now before you let your minds wander back to the beginning of the post, this is not what I am talking about.
I’m not even talking about my own personal favourite for Cupid, Pygar from Barbarella…
No. Not that at all. Think more like this…
That’s right. We decided we would dress for the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. I had intended to tell you how it remains the most notorious gangster killing of the prohibition era. I would have explained that the massacre that occurred at 10:30 a.m. on February 14, 1929 made Al Capone a national celebrity even though they could never prove he had anything to do with it. I might have even explained how two of the killers were even dressed as police officers and after the slaughter in the garage behind the offices of S.M.C. Cartage Company at 2122 North Clark Street in Chicago, the fake police were able to lead the other gunmen to freedom by pretending to have them under arrest. I think we are past all that now.
We created a staging area in the home the party was at. One complete wall was done up as “The East Side Garage” and we had bullet holes sprayed across the wall. The costumes were of Gangsters and Gun Molls. I brought in my studio lights and my Hasselblad and was able to get some pretty good quality fun shots. I’m the sober one holding the camera.
Those people knew how to party! However, I will never again call them Party Girls, Party Boys or Party People.
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I’ve seen every minute of Boardwalk Empire, it’s hard to believe the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre even made the papers. The Atlantic City guys kill off that many guys in the first 10 minutes of the typical episode.
We watch it all the time and I would have to agree. On that show it seems Al Capone kills that many every morning before his breakfast. Of course “Boardwalk” does use a wee bit of creative embellishment.
I’m always amazed the casting people are able to find enough actresses to appear topless who haven’t had boob jobs. Maybe they’re using computers to make those knockers look natural.
Hmmm. I can’t say I’ve really thought about it but you may have a point. This would make you 2Point already this morning.
I don’t want to come across as a perv or anything, but I don’t want anyone taking away my Guy Union card either.
No chance of you losing your Guy card. Personally, the fact that you even distinguish between real and natural and recognize how unusual the use of “real” is in the industry is pretty impressive for a “Card” carrying “guy”. You could have just said, “Doh! Boobs!”
So fun!!!
It really was.
I don’t get email notifications when you add new posts! Isn’t that supposed to happen?
It should. Check in your reader and see if you have the box ticked off.
Sadly the appeal of BE lost it for me after the first season. But love the pics
I agree about BE. My husband likes it so it is one of the concessions I make with respect to TV watching.
Odd that a horrific event could be the basis for a fun party…
(But it does look like fun!
I know! Maybe it is like those war re-enactments that people do. They all seem to enjoy it.
We did have fun and it was really more of celebrating that period in time. There was a lot more to it than these pics show. These were some old proofs I found and used.
What a hoot. And I CAN think of you as our kind of party girl.
These parties are coming back into vogue. My son Jacob participated in one over the summer. The theme was “Clue” as in the board game. It was held in a mansion not far from here. I the basement was a mural of a line of slot machines. Jacob started pulling pretend levers and soon had half the party plAying imaginary slots! My boy is a true party boy!
I like the way your family thinks. It seems the “house party” is evolving and lets face it, it is always fun to play pretend for one night. You can always go back to your troubles the next day.
He could; I wasn’t invited!
Well, anything for a good unique party. Well done, very creative party. Are you sure you were sober in that photo?
Ab-so-lute-ly! In those days there wasn’t much we wouldn’t do while drinking. I often wonder how any of us survived without killing ourselves or someone else. But, the one thing I would not do was drink while handling my equipment. My cameras and studio lights where worth a fortune to me and they were my livelihood. So, the most I would have had was 1 glass of scotch that I nursed all night long.
I have the same fond sort-of memories and amazement that I made it to this age.
Sounds like a real party blast.
(Everyone like to be on stage – how much fun – great pixs)
It was! I think you are right everyone does like to be on stage…as long as we can pretend to be someone else.
Wow! I’ve never been to a Valentine’s costume party. I’m moving north. You guys know how to celebrate. Party girl indeed!
Those were the days…
Thirty years later…not so much. 😉
This is so cool and so creative! I’d love the idea of being with someone else in a romantic way, but I think I love a lot more the idea of doing something fun and not mainstream on St Valentine’s Day. I bet it was brilliant. 🙂
It was. We had a lot of fun. I wish I had the whole set of pictures. I made big posters out of the best shots and sepia toned them so they looked old. They were great. These photos were actually the proofs of the shots we didn’t use.
Wandered over from Art’s blog.
There was a time when it was possible that someone might refer to me as a…you won’t believe it…as a “Party Girl”. I know, I know. I said you wouldn’t believe it.
Why wouldn’t I? And yes, I get your meaning, not the common definition. My memory is pretty uncanny, enough that I can remember… well, a long way back. I remember my parents in their more youthful years, maybe even memories they would hope I’d forget a little more (heh heh).
Yesterday and Friday my family and I went to a SF/fantasy/gaming convention. Saturday night was a costume competition which most of us (save my son) participated in. It was awesome!
That sounds like a lot of fun. I don’t think I have heard of anything like that around here. There must be and I am just out of the loop. Thanks for stopping by.
You’re quite welcome.
It was great fun. They’ve tried to make it more family-friendly, but sometimes, still, D’oh! Cleavage!
Radcon DOT org will have more information.
I will have to check into it. Thanks.
Did you keep up your interest in photography Michelle? You must have been pretty handy to earn a living with the camera; not that easy and Hasselblads generally not cheap.
I earned a living as a photographer for 20 years, Bruce. I loved it. Then I got ill and was off work for over a year. It happened at the same time digital was making itself known and I decided to reinvent myself. I went into TV, it seemed like a natural transition.
What sort of photography were you into Michelle? I take a photo or two myself and have an interest in making a good image. Life got in the way of pursuing the camera for years. Do you still take photos anyway?
Bruce, I did a lot of things. Fashion, commercial, families and some travel. I went into TV and eventually sold all my equipment. As I type this it is hard for me to believe but I do not own a camera now. My last camera had a pot of coffee poured on it at a wedding and that was the end of it. Every new photo you see on my blog posts has been taken with my Android. It fascinates me the quality you can get with a phone.
The digital era is pretty fascinating. It allowed me to get back into taking photos.
Thirty years ago a camera in a pocket sized mobile phone would have been sci-fi.
For some of us it still is.
Wow – what a great party! That’s the kind of “party girl” I wish I could be. I need to find more fun friends.
Thanks Peg. Unfortunately, that was then. This is now. If you find those fun people let me know.
Now that is quite a party girl! Yes,we all have our excuses, but the pictures does reveal everything don’t they… By the way, great pictures. Must be fun to look back now. Nothing like the old Hasselblad, no? But seriously it looks like a great party.
It was a great party. I wish you could have seen the final photos. These were some of the “rejected” proofs. The good ones were sepia toned and made into some huge posters. They decorated the party room for some time. You are right just seeing any of my old equipment makes me quite nostalgic. I use to spend hours & hours in the dark room making magic. It was great!
Michelle, you go a long time between posts… let’s have some writing, k.
Well, I guess I have been told.
I do. I spend so much time reading yours I never get my own published.
Oh stop that… stop reading my stuff and get with yours! I just read your new post… thank you. That is all I can say.
OK, Trent, there’s one there for you.